Anno | 1800 Lan Multiplayer Link

If you have a friend on the same network, Co-op mode is where LAN truly shines. In co-op, two or more players control the same company. You can split responsibilities:

Because there is no network lag over LAN, co-op feels nearly seamless. You can both pause, build, and issue commands simultaneously. It’s an excellent way to teach a new player or tackle a massive empire together.

Once any player reaches Engineers, the king’s will is revealed: Only one heir can unite the crown. All non-aggression pacts become void. From here, it’s a free-for-all or 2v2 (if you pre-agree teams). The AI foreign power now attacks the leader only, creating chaos.

You do not need port forwarding on your router (since you’re not going to WAN). You do need Windows Firewall exceptions on each PC: anno 1800 lan multiplayer link

To test: On host, run netstat -an | findstr "18000". On client, try Test-NetConnection <host IP> -Port 18000 in PowerShell.

Ubisoft has not officially announced a "Pure Offline LAN Mode" for Anno 1800. Given the game's live-service elements (Twitch Drops, weekly challenges, the in-game "News" ticker), it is unlikely they will add a dedicated LAN button.

However, the existing peer-to-peer architecture is robust. For hardcore LAN party enthusiasts, using the "Friends List" method on a closed local network remains the gold standard. If you have a friend on the same

If you are on the same network (LAN) but cannot see each other or connect:

  • Beta Branches: Ensure neither player has opted into a "Beta" or "Public Test" version of the game on Steam or Ubisoft Connect, as this will create a version mismatch with the standard game.
  • Mod Conflicts: If you are playing with mods (via the Anno 1800 Mod Loader), all players in the LAN party must have the exact same mods installed and activated. Otherwise, the game will desynchronize immediately upon joining.

    • If any player uses mods (via the Mod Loader), the checksum of the game files changes.

    If you want all humans vs. AI in a story campaign style: Because there is no network lag over LAN,

    “The Great Eastern Company has collapsed. You and your fellow directors must rebuild from a single harbor. The Crown has sent three ruthless governors (hard AI) to dismantle your company. Work together to reach Investors and build the World’s Fair before they destroy your headquarters.”

    Setup: All humans on the same team, 3 hard AI enemies. No victory condition other than “complete the World’s Fair” – that’s your win. AI will attack individually. This creates a true co-op survival story.

    The most critical piece of information for any player looking to set up a LAN party is the architecture of the game. Unlike older RTS games (like Age of Empires 2 or StarCraft), where one computer acts as the host and others connect directly via IP address without external intervention, Anno 1800 operates differently.